Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-12-21
miscellaneous &eadina.
From the Columbia Register, December H.
HOW A HERO DIED.

lfrOW tne COLUMBUS neSIstel, beeehiooh A"l
HOW A HERO DIED.
AS familiar figure as any about the State
House is William Rose, the cOlOred mes
senger at the Governors Office, VIC has
become, through faithful service, q fixture
in that position, having served in the same
capacity for all the Governors since '76,
and indeed for a time in 1868 for Govern
or Bonham.
AS the body-servant of General MaXcy
Gregg through all his service in the war
up to the time when his gallant career
terminated by death, Roses relations
with the General were naturally of such a
character as to bring to his personal knoWl-
edge much concerning the Generals life
in the army and the exact circumstances
attending his death possessed by no one
else. ,
This has long been known to many OF the
friends of the dead hero who ave there
fore often found it entertaining to talk
with Rose upon the subject, but his remln-
iscences and statements have never so far
as kn6Sn been published.
To secure and preserve this unWrltten
chapter of the history of n of South
South Cardinals most gallant and devoted
sons, a reporter of the Register last night
secured from the venerable body-servant
his complete recollections of the matter.
He has a retentive memory and speaks
positively even as to exact words used IN
certain cases and the story was carefully
taken down as it fell from his lips. He
holds the memory of his departed master
in the greatest reverence, and at times, as
his narrative took him mentally back to
the old scenes and brought up thoughts
of the kindness he had received, his voice
would choke with emotion and tears of
genuine feeling filled his eyes. -.
William Roses first recollections OF
Maxcy Gregg go back to when he first
knew of him as a student at the South
Carolina College, but his first at all init
mate connection with him was when, as
his servant, and Colonel Gregg then a
member of Governor Means staff, he &C.
companied him on his various trips with
the Governor to the military inspections
and encampments of that time.
When the wal broke out Gregg, being
commissioned as Colonel of the FirstSouth
Carolina Volunteers, went at once to
Charleston, where his command was at
once Joined by the Richland Volunteers.
Rose was with them as a musician and
applied for and secured the position of
body servant to Colonel Gregg. From
that time until death severed the connec-
ton, Rose was his devoted follower and
attendant, and his f%aithfulness was prop
erly appreciated. AS al illustration of
General Gregg's high opinion of his serv-
ant the following may be related:
Whilst in Camp at Suffolk, Va, Gen.
eral Gregg's tent vas robbed. Several
officers accused Rose of being the robber
and so stated to Gregg, but the General
wouldn't believe it; laughed at the accu-
sation. It finally t%ranspired that the rob-
berry had been perpetrated by one of Capt:
Shooters men, in whose possession several
of the stolen articles were found.
Concerning General Gregg's character
and habits as a soldier, his humble but
devoted follower pays high tribute, de-
scribing him as an officer beloved by all
his men, ever mindful of their comfort
and interested in their welfare. Rose
says he often expected to hear of his Gen.
eral being killed long before he was, for
when at Centreville and elsewhere, being
on the advanced line, it was his constant
custom to leave camp early in the morn
ing alone and be absent sometimes until
after dark exploring the country in front
and seeking to gain any information that
might be of value.
Coming to the fatal time, around which
udluIdllN VIC SlCdlCou . ~ SSLtiSS
Rose describes the circumstances attend
ant upon General Gregg's ~wounding and
death as follows:
The day was Saturday, and the fighting
had been going on since morning. At
about half-past ten o'clock Rose went
towards q brick house where he was &C.
customed to get milk. He saw a young
man named James Hamilton, a member of
the Richland Volunteers, coming out of
the battle, wounded in the thigh. He
hailed Rose and told him General Gregg
had been shot, and he feared was dead by
that time. He had helped to carry him
from the field.
Rose at once reported the news to Major
Harry Hammond, Brigade Quartermaster,
and then set off on horseback to find his
master. Near the brick house already
alluded to he found DR.. Powell taking off
legs and arms in the open air, and vas
told by him that General Gregg, badly
shot, was inside.
Rose found his suffering master in a
room on the firstf1oor, lying on a mattress
on the floor.
swell, William, Pm shot," he said as
his servant entered, and on being told the
news Of it had reached camp, asked how
it got there. Later he ordered all his be-
longings brought where he was, which was
done, and his gold watch being among
them, he then and there gave it to Rose
to keep, saying he had intended to make
provision for him, but it was then too late.
"When you 60 home to South Carolina"
he said, 'tell my sisters not to weep nor to
mourn at my death, but to look to AL
mighty God and meet MI in heaven"
He several times repeated as a message,
'Tell Colonel Haskell that 1 love him
from the bottom of my heart"
He bore his suffering philosophically
and most of the time lay on his back with
his hands clasped over his eyes, except
when some one would come to speak to
of the brigade were coming to see him,
and called each by name-Drs. Powell,
Kilgore, Roberts, Evans and Hugher.
They all came in and saw him. General
Gregg also said he should die at 8 o'clock
that night, but inthis he proved mistaken,
for he fingered long after that.
About midnight he asked if there was
anyone in the house who knew where
General Stonewall Jackson's headquarters
were. A stout gentleman in citizens
dress, who was present, said he did and
asked why the question. General Gregg
that he wanted to see him and ac-
cordingly the General was sent for.
General Gregg cautioned Rose who was
beside his bed that if asleep when Gener-
Jackson arrived he must be awakened,
and as it happened when General Jackson
did reach the place General Gregg was
sleeping. He was awakened by Rose who
told him who was there.
General Jackson approaching the bed,
stretched out his hand and said: "How
do you do, General Gregg"
Taking the offered hand General Gregg
us that you, General Jackson? 2"
YES" was the reply, show are you
feelingw